NASA ATom Cloud and Aerosol Aircraft Measurements from 2016-2018

ATom cloud and coarse aerosol data contains particle size distributions and cloud type classifications measured by the University of Vienna's CAPS instrument aboard the NASA DC-8 aircraft. The dataset covers four campaigns conducted between 2016 and 2018, providing 1 Hz resolution classifications for cloud-free, aerosol-cloud transition, liquid, mixed-phase, and cirrus cloud regimes. It is produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Use Cases

• Analyzing cloud type frequency and distribution using the 1 Hz cloud indicator classifications (cloud-free, ACTR, liquid, MPTR, cirrus).
• Studying aerosol size distributions and concentrations in selected size ranges from 0.5 to 960 micrometers, standardized to reference pressure and temperature.
• Investigating relationships between cloud phase, particle concentration, and environmental conditions using algorithm inputs like relative humidity and temperature.
• Validating satellite remote sensing products and climate model parameterizations with direct, in-situ atmospheric measurements.

Strengths

• Data provides high temporal resolution with cloud classifications generated on a 1 Hz basis.
• Measurements cover a wide particle size spectrum from 0.5 to 960 micrometers using two complementary instrument components (CAS-DPOL and CIP).
• Dataset spans a multi-year observational period across four distinct ATom campaigns from 2016 to 2018.

Limitations

• Specific column names, row counts, and dataset size are not provided by any source, limiting precise technical assessment.
• There is a conflict in the reported last updated date between platforms (2018-05-21 on NASA Earthdata vs. 2026-03 13 on Data.gov).

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), with instrument development and data from the University of Vienna.

Collection Method

In-situ measurements from the second-generation Cloud Aerosol and Precipitation Spectrometer (CAPS) mounted on the NASA DC-8 aircraft.

Time Range

2016 to 2018

Freshness

2026-03-13 14:04:15.054404

Geography

Global coverage from NASA DC-8 aircraft flights during the ATom campaigns.